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Is Ryan Giggs the best player in Premier League history?

Former Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has stated that the veteran Welshman is the English top flight’s most distinguished player.

The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool means that there are not too many pleasantries exchanged between the clubs or their respective representatives.

As such, Jamie Carragher’s latest comments praising Ryan Giggs should be treated with all the more credence.

The now-retired Anfield stalwart is the latest in a long line of figures in the footballing community to praise the Welsh wizard, who turned 40 this week.

Giggs put in a virtuoso performance in United’s 5-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, rolling back the years.

Carragher has stated that despite the immense talent that have plied their trade in the English top flight over the years, Giggs will be remembered as the Premier League’s best-ever player.

“The biggest compliment I can give to Ryan Giggs is that he is the best player in the history of the Premier League,” Carragher commented in his column for The Daily Mail.

“Why? Three things set him apart from the rest - his longevity, his medal haul and, above all, his humility.

“Nobody will come close to matching his collection of 34 major honours, nor will anyone score in 21 consecutive seasons as he has done.

“He could have done what David Beckham did and pursued fame but he has stayed grounded. You never hear him put a word out of place.”

Giggs surely is not the most technically gifted player that has played in the Premier League. Looking back over the years the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Gianfranco Zola and Cristiano Ronaldo dazzled spectators with their ability.

However, for consistency, you would be hard pushed to find a player that has delivered on such a regular basis as the Manchester United legend. Back as a flying winger he won games single-handedly, and as he got older he adapted his game to still be effective in a midfield role, no longer relying on his pace.

His attitude is another key reason, as Carragher points out. With so many modern footballers selfish, chasing money and unsavoury characters on the pitch, Giggs is your model professional – a player that youngsters should aspire to be like.

He will certainly go down as a Manchester United legend, and Carragher’s claim is worthy.

Gareth McKnight

I am a freelance football journalist from Northern Ireland, currently living and working from Broome in Western Australia. After a degree in sports journalism from the University of Stirling in Scotland, I started in the online football world and have worked for leading websites and media outlets since. My knowledge and passion is based around the Premier League and European football, but I also have a soft spot for the Australian A-League.